Middle Tennesee State University Athletics
NOTEBOOK: Blue Raiders will say “Mele Kalikimaka” in the Hawaii Bowl!
11/28/2022 5:18:00 PM | Football, General, Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball, BRAA
We'll be saying 𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙝𝙖 to the islands and singing 𝙈𝙚𝙡𝙚 𝙆𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙖 this holiday season! We're going to the @HawaiiBowl! 🏝
— Middle Tennessee FB (@MT_FB) November 28, 2022
📰 DETAILS: https://t.co/9ijLTUkZpu#BLUEnited | #EATT pic.twitter.com/Wo5G9u7Fiw
This will be the Blue Raiders second trip to Hawai'i, after the program played in the Hawai'i Bowl in 2016. Both Jordan Ferguson and Chase Cunningham recalled watching that game against the Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors with their families while they were both just recruits, about to enroll at MTSU the next summer. Now, they'll have a full circle moment to cap off their college careers.
"We are honored to be representing MTSU and Conference USA in the Hawai'i Bowl," said Middle Tennessee Head Coach Rick Stockstill in today's athletic department release. "I am extremely happy and proud for our team and especially our seniors that they can experience a bowl as prestigious at the Hawai'i Bowl. This will be an incredible experience for them, and they are very deserving considering all the adversity and accomplishments they have fought through and achieved this year. We are very excited for this opportunity and we can't wait to get there and experience the Hawaiian culture."
Director of Athletics Chris Massaro also issued a statement on MTSU's selection to the Hawaii Bowl, which you can see below.
Director of Athletics @ChrisMassaroAD on @MT_FB headed to the @HawaiiBowl: pic.twitter.com/QqdMQtMtKz
— MT Athletics (@MTAthletics) November 28, 2022
Relive the regular season finale win over FIU
MTSU got in position to head to Oahu thanks to a dramatic win over FIU this weekend, which guaranteed a winning season for the Blue Raiders.
Relive all the moments from Saturday night below!
Wrapped up the regular season with a dub!#BLUEnited | #EATT pic.twitter.com/0N9bkhMWGm
— Middle Tennessee FB (@MT_FB) November 28, 2022
The State of Miami Champs
With the win over FIU, MTSU became the first football program ever to finish the Tri-County Trifecta, defeating all three FBS programs located in Miami metro area: Miami, FAU and FIU. So, we had a little fun online on Sunday.
𝙏𝙧𝙞-𝘾𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙮 𝙏𝙧𝙞𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙖 🌴
— Middle Tennessee FB (@MT_FB) November 27, 2022
Your #BlueRaiders are the first team ever to play (and beat 😎) Miami, Florida Atlantic and FIU in the same season.#BLUEnited | #EATT pic.twitter.com/HqD0xTSbtU
In other news, a great many of y'all need to use your ESPN+ subscription to watch the 30 for 30 documentary "The U" and learn a bit about Howard Schellenberger's State of Miami recruiting plan when he had the Hurricanes rolling. I could not believe how that went over so many folks' heads yesterday.
But a great many of y'all, including a plethora of folks in Tallahassee, understood. Including one of my favorite college football accounts.
AHAHAHAHA GO BLUE RAIDERS THIS IS BEAUTIFUL https://t.co/7DN7zQB47O
— Sickos Committee (@SickosCommittee) November 27, 2022
Thomas named C-USA Defensive Player of the Week
Not to be outdone on the football front, Jakobe Thomas picked up the team's second straight Defensive Player of the Week honor from the Conference USA office, after picking off FIU twice in the closing minutes, returning one for a touchdown that gave MTSU the lead.
Two key fourth quarter INTs later, @jakobethomas2 is @ConferenceUSA's Defensive Player of the Week!
— Middle Tennessee FB (@MT_FB) November 28, 2022
📰 https://t.co/14eMWeoJTa pic.twitter.com/Y0YapswhIN
You can check out my sidebar from the weekend, focused on Thomas' big moments here: "We were tough enough to overcome it" — Thomas shows Blue Raiders how to respond against Panthers
Jakobe Thomas, Defensive Player of the Week
— Conference USA (@ConferenceUSA) November 28, 2022
2 INTs, 1 returned for TD@MT_FB | #CUSAFB pic.twitter.com/0N5CYYZlrM
Men's Basketball completes sweep in Northern Classic
The Middle Tennessee basketball team had a big weekend in Quebec, taking all three games they played in Montreal to come back to the United States with a ton of momentum entering December.
Elias King was a star, scoring 31 points with 18 rebounds across the three games, none bigger than his put-back layup to give MTSU a 72-71 advantage in the closing seconds against Montana State, earning the Blue Raiders their third victory of the holiday weekend.
ELIAS GIVES US THE LEAD BACK!! 💪
— MT Basketball (@MT_MBB) November 27, 2022
Timeout Bobcats.
Let's Get. A. Stop.
72-71 | 0:18 2H pic.twitter.com/Az5TFunVRh
I really enjoyed following along with the team's journey over the weekend, particularly seeing the Montreal crowd embrace the style of basketball of Nick McDevitt's team was playing, which was its usual high-energy self in Canada (hear the crowd roar with the Teafale Lenard dunk at the 0:13 mark in the video below).
Kept the rig rollin' tonight!#StickTogether pic.twitter.com/REc4r4PDMT
— MT Basketball (@MT_MBB) November 27, 2022
As for my favorite bit of content for the weekend? My guy Easton Smith did a great job on the game recap from the Montana State thriller, but I'd have to give the nod to Wes Long vlogging the team's Game Day against Stephen F. Austin.
Women's Basketball splits pair in Las Vegas
The Lady Raiders responded well in the desert over the weekend, rebounding after an opening loss to trounce past Missouri State in their final game of the Las Vegas Invitational.
MTSU debuted its black uniforms against the Bears, which got plenty of play in Jordan Frazier's highlight video, which was reposted by the NCAA WBB account this weekend.
𝐖𝐈𝐍 𝐂𝐢𝐭𝐲 🎰🏀#NCAAWBB x 🎥 @MT_WBBpic.twitter.com/CudnBvhkEr
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessWBB) November 27, 2022
In other news: Savannah Wheeler is continuing to excel on the court with her new team. Or, as the WBB account put it this weekend...
Wow... x-rays done at halftime appear to show that @savwheeler4 suffers from having too much 𝐃𝐀𝐖𝐆 in her as she leads the way with 16 points on a 75% clip. 😳#BLUEnited | #TrueBlue pic.twitter.com/HqBWkKiubk
— MT Women's Basketball (@MT_WBB) November 26, 2022
Big Lady Raider games on tap this week in the Glass House
Get your tickets now for a Top 25 matchup in the Boro this Sunday, as No. 18 Louisville heads south down I-65 to I-24 for what will be a barnburner of game in the Glass House.
The Lady Raiders will also welcome in-state foe Tennessee Tech to the Murphy Center on Thursday morning for their annual Education Day game.
Back at the Glass House! 🏀
— MT Women's Basketball (@MT_WBB) November 28, 2022
We'll host a couple of games later this week.#BLUEnited | #TrueBlue pic.twitter.com/fVhuI6HSh4
Reed "Sunk Your" Blankenship shows up in a big way on Sunday Night Football
Just as I was crossing the line into Rutherford County on my way home from Thanksgiving, my phone was a blaze in texts and tweet notifications. When I finally got home, I saw why: Reed Blankenship had just been pressed into duty for the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday Night Football.
And he had just picked off Aaron Rodgers.
Rookie Reed Blankenship picks it! @reedus99_reed | #FlyEaglesFly
— NFL (@NFL) November 28, 2022
📺: #GBvsPHI on NBC
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/FRZHlv4OoL pic.twitter.com/I6pOgV3DXx
I loved scrolling through my feed on Sunday night and watching so many folks who already knew about how great a player Reed is excited for him, as well as watching so many folks discover his talent for the first time.
We been known about Reed Blankenship. #CUSA https://t.co/JWsmtGcOgh
— Eric Henry (@EricCHenry_) November 28, 2022
Have a night Reed Blankenship pic.twitter.com/knVYHFDI0E
— Brenden Deeg (@BrendenDeeg_) November 28, 2022
if Reed Blankenship isn't careful he's gonna become a cult hero in this town
— Pat Gallen (@PatGallenCBS3) November 28, 2022
Reed Blankenship playing like he has no concept of what he should be fearful of.. like a 5-year old doing somersaults on the couch.
— Michael Kist (@MichaelKistNFL) November 28, 2022
Track and Field Indoor Schedules Released
The schedules are 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦 for 2023! 👀
— MT XC/Track & Field (@MT_TrackField) November 28, 2022
📰: https://t.co/YgtOqM7g1U
📅: https://t.co/fARq3hXA0F#BLUEnited | #TrueBlue pic.twitter.com/D93hVSN68h
On this Giving Tuesday, MTSU Athletics thanks you for your support
Support @MTAthletics Women's Sport programs in recognition of Title IX for Giving Tuesday!
— Blue Raider Athletic Association (BRAA) (@MTSUBRAA) November 28, 2022
Pick your favorite sport or give to the Champions Annual Fund in recognition of the 50th Anniversary of Title IX in 2022-23.https://t.co/bnvYyeZWiZ pic.twitter.com/X7OFFsdZ1y
